[PigHorse]

Hello everyone
I have a 5 year old Appaloosa mare, I ride her in a Tom Thumb bit. Whenever she is galloping or trotting and I whoa her she opens her mouth like it hurts, even when I just barely pull, I don't know if its the bit or not because I rode all my other horses in a Tom Tumb and they do just fine, I have also ridden her in a Quarter Horse training bit and she did the same thing, is this just how she is or what? Her teeth have been floated recently and so I know it's not her teeth. She also pins back her ears when I am riding her and ask her to trot or gallop.

[2spotslast]

Tom Thumbs are well known for being hard on a horse's mouth. If she acts like it's hurting her, it more than likely is! The Tom Thumb has a scissor type action on their mouth and chin groove. You should try a lot of different bits until you find one she likes and doesn't hurt her. If it were my horse, the first one I would try would be a three piece mouth with a flat center link.

[HUS_WP_lovr]

Yes, Tom Thumbs have a nut cracker action to them and do not have good reputations.

Try a french link



or a plain egg butt loose ring


Or even a full cheek

[2spotslast]

The mouthpieces on the bits HUS posted are also available with a western shank if that's what you're interested in.

[Lindsayanne]

This article explains the mechanics of a curb bit, which may help you understand how the tom tumb affects your horse: http://raraequus.com/edu2/pages/curb_bit_contact.htm

But that article is written about a plain ported mouthpiece curb, combined with the tom thumb mouthpiece it works almost like putting the lower jaw in a nutcracker.

Some horses don't react to pressure/contact on this kind of bit because they have actually been ridden in one so much, so incorrectly, that they actually have nerve damage and don't feel it as much as a young or professionally trained horse would.

[GingerSnap]

Not only does the Tom Thumb have the nutcracker effect but it also uses pressure with the curb chain. How is your horses teeth? This could also be a contributing factor. If you want him in a curb bit you could try using a colt bit.....

[Heavenly Jumper]

Check out this article "The Trouble With Tom Thumb"

http://www.todayshorse.com/Articles/...thTomThumb.htm

There is one bit that I never recommend, however, and in fact do my best to try to talk people out of using, particularly if they are experiencing problems with their horses - problems such as unresponsiveness while stopping, backing, or turning, or even more severe problems like head tossing, shaking their heads, or rearing. The bit that I am talking about, and which is often the source of such problems, is the Tom Thumb snaffle.

[doublebarr]

Since your horse does this in 2 different bits, I would wonder what the mouthpiece is of the "quarter horse training bit"? Is it also a single jointed snaffle? Horses often have different pallet heights. A single jointed bit may jab into a lower upper pallet. I would try a mullen mouth like the one Gingersnap posted or a double broken snaffle and see if that helps.

[dotgotcalm]

Originally Posted by doublebarr

Since your horse does this in 2 different bits, I would wonder what the mouthpiece is of the "quarter horse training bit"? Is it also a single jointed snaffle? Horses often have different pallet heights. A single jointed bit may jab into a lower upper pallet. I would try a mullen mouth like the one Gingersnap posted or a double broken snaffle and see if that helps.

Exactly what I was thinking DB!

[horsemum2]

Originally Posted by 2spotslast

The mouthpieces on the bits HUS posted are also available with a western shank if that's what you're interested in.

what is the name of this bit?
can you find a pic. of this bit or a link to one? our 4yr.old is in a loose ring snaffle and will soon be going to a new bit because of age and is being trained for western riding.